Comments

I have the Skechers Go Run Ultra, and I like it a lot. I find that it gives very good cushion on the trails. With the insole it's an 8mm drop shoe, and without the insole it's a 4mm drop shoe. I run without the insole. Just another one to throw into the mix.

Not a recommendation as such, but like you I run in MT110 and love them, but am also hesitant to use them for my first 50-miler this summer. I've had some problems with a foot during fall and winter and can't have that flaring up during a 10-hour run. Being a NB Minimus afficionado I plan to go with the MT1010v2; I have not got them yet, and it may become obvious during spring that they don't provide enough cushioning for the long ultras, but I am really hesitant to go down the Hoka route. Normally I would not have considered even the 1010's - they look too much like a normally cushioned shoe for my taste, even though they are light and supposedly feels a lot like the 110's - but these are not normal times.

It will therefore be interesting to hear what shoe you end up getting, and also your thoughts on how they perform versus the MT110.

I'm interested in the LonePeak, but having never seen them, I'm a bit reluctant to order one up. I had a previous experience with a VivoBarefoot shoe that was at least a full size off. Since I'm in Canada, shipping to/from gets expensive.

The other factors against the LonePeak are weight and stack height, though neither is too far off of my acceptable range.

I've tried on the Terra Kiger but not run in it. Nice shoe, but may not be stiff enough for your needs. Pretty soft, and love the upper. Saucony Peregrine feels a bit more cushioned than the 110 and might be worth a look. Brooks Grit 3 also coming soon.

I've run with the NB1010 on trails in our Rochester, NY winter and while it is not insulated in the least, I find it has a nice grip on crusty snow/soft ice. I'm planning on using it for serious trail training as winter breaks into spring. For the winter months, I just jumped into Newton BoCoAT (weirdly, 2 days before I read Pete's review... though thankfully, his review was confirmatory)

Maybe we all know our general drops/roominess requirements for most of the year. My thoughts on spring trail races revolve on the 'special' conditions, is it muddy? is it frozen? Is it usually scree/gravel or roots and rocks? Do you need stability, protection, warmth, grip, traction, water-proofing... and what combination of each?

I once ran a St.Patricks (Mar. 17) trail race that had 6 inch snow drifts in the hollows, mud (at the bottom of crests) and ice patches in the open air fields. Since then, well... training shoes are always different than race day shoes for me.

My spring race is actually in May, so even though I'm in Alberta, I'm expecting warm weather. Considering our climate, it could be anywhere between 8 and 30 degrees C (37 to 86 F).

Your point is valid though. My MT110s work well in cold and slightly snowy conditions. My local trails are well swept(though icy) throughout the winter so I am able to stay out of accumulated snow, but race days can be a different matter, I'm doing a 1/2 marathon (the Hypothermic Half) on Feb 16 and that could be extreme weather - extreme cold and drifting snow are both possibilities. Someday I'll get the MT110 Winter for such weather.

I have been against all this maximalisme but must say I was impressed when I tried a pair of Hokas. They were really comfortable. Too bad the toe box is for me too narrow. I run mostly in Altras because the wide toe box is joga for my feet problems. So if I ran more trails I would not hesitate to get the Altra Olympus. That must be the perfect maximalisme trail shoe. A Hoka with an Altra fit!

I don't think you need to look much farther than the 1010v2 and the Kiger. The fact that the trail is "non-rocky" leads me to recommend the Kiger, but if you want a rock plate, the 1010v2 is a great choice.